<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Background.</bold> Biliopancreatic tumors (BPT) are among the most aggressive solid malignancies, and their incidence is rising. Good patient outcome relies heavily on a multidisciplinary approach to therapy, including timely access to endoscopy, surgery and chemo/radiotherapy. We aimed to evaluate current practices as reflected in the management and outcome of patients diagnosed with BPT in the setting of a low-resource medical system in order to identify areas suitable for improvement.
<bold>Material and methods.</bold> We conducted a prospective observational study of patients with pancreatic cancers and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas evaluated in 4 referral centers in Romania. We collected data on the pathology of the tumors, staging at diagnosis, ECOG status, surgical interventions, chemo/radiotherapy and endoscopic drainage where applicable. A telephonic follow-up visit at 3 months after the enrollment visit collected additional data regarding evolution, subsequent treatment, performance status and disease-related events and outcomes.
<bold>Results and conclusions.</bold> One hundred seventy-two patients were included in the study during a one-year period at the four participating centers. 72.1% were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while 27.9% had extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We identified several unmet needs in the current practices of treatment for these malignancies: a lack of pathological confirmation in 25.6% of the cases, a very low percentage of resectable lesions (only 18% of the patients operated with curative intent), and suboptimal choice of drainage in patients who required palliative drainage at their first endoscopic intervention. Significant effort is required to ensure standard-of-care treatment for patient with BPT in low-resource medical systems, including comprehensive auditing and protocol surveillance.
</abstract>

Background. Biliopancreatic tumors (BPT) are among the most aggressive solid malignancies, and their incidence is rising. Good patient outcome relies heavily on a multidisciplinary approach to therapy, including timely access to endoscopy, surgery and chemo/radiotherapy. We aimed to evaluate current practices as reflected in the management and outcome of patients diagnosed with BPT in the setting of a low-resource medical system in order to identify areas suitable for improvement.
Material and methods. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients with pancreatic cancers and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas evaluated in 4 referral centers in Romania. We collected data on the pathology of the tumors, staging at diagnosis, ECOG status, surgical interventions, chemo/radiotherapy and endoscopic drainage where applicable. A telephonic follow-up visit at 3 months after the enrollment visit collected additional data regarding evolution, subsequent treatment, performance status and disease-related events and outcomes.
Results and conclusions. One hundred seventy-two patients were included in the study during a one-year period at the four participating centers. 72.1% were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while 27.9% had extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We identified several unmet needs in the current practices of treatment for these malignancies: a lack of pathological confirmation in 25.6% of the cases, a very low percentage of resectable lesions (only 18% of the patients operated with curative intent), and suboptimal choice of drainage in patients who required palliative drainage at their first endoscopic intervention. Significant effort is required to ensure standard-of-care treatment for patient with BPT in low-resource medical systems, including comprehensive auditing and protocol surveillance.

Unmet needs in the diagnosis and treatment of Romanian patients with bilio-pancreatic tumors: results of a prospective observational multicentric study

Romanian Journal of Internal Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Background. Biliopancreatic tumors (BPT) are among the most aggressive solid malignancies, and their incidence is rising. Good patient outcome relies heavily...

Unmet needs in the diagnosis and treatment of Romanian patients with bilio-pancreatic tumors: results of a prospective observational multicentric study

Publicado en línea: 26 ago 2021

Páginas: 286 - 295

Recibido: 12 dic 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjim-2021-0009

Palabras clave
pancreatic neoplasms, cholangiocarcinoma, multidisciplinary team, oncology, endoscopy, patient outcome, survival

© 2021 Theodor Voiosu et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Unmet needs in the diagnosis and treatment of Romanian patients with bilio-pancreatic tumors: results of a prospective observational multicentric study

Publicado en línea: 26 ago 2021

Páginas: 286 - 295

Recibido: 12 dic 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjim-2021-0009

Palabras clavepancreatic neoplasms, cholangiocarcinoma, multidisciplinary team, oncology, endoscopy, patient outcome, survival

© 2021 Theodor Voiosu et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
pancreatic neoplasms, cholangiocarcinoma, multidisciplinary team, oncology, endoscopy, patient outcome, survival